On June 27, 2015, following the race-related murder of nine people in a Charleston church shooting, Bree Newsome scaled a 30-foot flagpole outside the South Carolina statehouse and pulled down the Confederate flag.
“In the name of Jesus, this flag has to come down,” she said as she descended. “You come against me with hatred and oppression and violence. I come against you in the name of God. This flag comes down today.”
Newsome was arrested for civil disobedience, but her message was heard. Less than three weeks later, state officials removed the flag permanently.
On Wednesday, March 22, Newsome will discuss the flag controversy when she visits Penn State Erie, The Behrend College as part of the campus' Speaker Series. Her presentation – “Tearing Hatred from the Sky” – begins at 7:30 p.m. in the McGarvey Commons of the Reed Union Building. The program is free and open to the public.
Newsome is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, composer, singer and community activist. She currently works as a western field organizer for IgniteNC, a project of the Southern Vision Alliance, and is a founding member of Tribe, a grassroots organizing collective dedicated to empowering underserved communities in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Her appearance at Penn State Behrend is made possible by the Student Activity Fee, the Division of Student Affairs and the Harriet Behrend Ninow Memorial Lecture Series Fund. For additional information, contact the Office of Student Activities at 814-898-6171.